Carrier Manager

Company Description

Winsupply is in the business of creating and enabling entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams through wholesale distribution. Winsupply is a group of over 670 locally-owned companies that operate across a variety of industries, including HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical and more. The purpose of the support services campus is to eliminate obstacles and provide support to help our entrepreneurs succeed. Support service employees assist entrepreneurs in achieving their dreams through finance, accounting, IT, and other back-office operations.

Job Description

Position Summary
The Carrier Manager is a leadership role responsible for the strategic oversight and day-to-day management of the Carrier Relations Specialists. This role is tasked with scaling carrier management across the Winsupply network and ensuring that our partnerships with LTL, Parcel (UPS), Truckload (TL), and 3PL providers deliver maximum value.
As a leader, this position will empower their team to own carrier relationships while the Carrier Manager focuses on high-level strategy, contract negotiations, and network-wide service improvements. This position will be held accountable for the performance of the carrier portfolio, the professional development of its direct reports, and the continuous optimization of cost, compliance, and service outcomes for Winsupply distribution centers and local companies.
Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Performance ManagementDirect Supervision: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Carrier Relations Specialists.
  • Accountability: Set clear KPIs for the team regarding carrier performance, routing guide compliance, and issue resolution.
  • Workflow Optimization: Audit and improve team SOPs to ensure consistent carrier management practices across the WSS network.
• Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Management
  • Contracting Strategy: Lead the lifecycle for carrier agreements, including rate files, fuel programs, and SLAs.
  • RFP Leadership: Design and execute large-scale sourcing events and annual bid cycles for all modes (LTL, TL, Parcel).
  • Cost Containment: Identify and implement network-wide cost-saving initiatives through mode optimization and carrier alignment.
  • Commercial Expertise: Act as the final escalation point for complex negotiations, freight classification disputes (NMFC), and FAK structures.
• Network Governance & Compliance
  • Routing Integrity: Oversee the development and enforcement of routing guides to ensure alignment between cost, service, and operational capacity.
  • Regulatory Oversight: Ensure all carrier partners meet strict compliance standards regarding safety, insurance, and operating authority.
  • Stakeholder Coordination: Partner with WSS Distribution Center leadership and local company owners to align transportation strategy with business needs.
• Operational Excellence & Systems
  • TMS Stewardship: Serve as the functional lead for the TMS (MercuryGate/Infios), ensuring data integrity and effective EDI/API connectivity.
  • Advanced Analytics: Leverage Excel and Power BI to translate complex transportation data into actionable executive-level insights.
  • High-Level Escalations: Manage critical service failures or systemic performance issues that require executive-level intervention with carrier partners.

Competencies for Success
• Very strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Solid understanding of supply chain transportations (TL, LTL, Rail, Air, Ocean, Parcel).
• Outstanding analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be able to work under pressure with tight deadlines and be available after normal business
hours for issue resolution.
• Ability to manage multiple lines of communication at once (multiple calls, emails and or text) while
staying organized.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
• Minimum 5 years' carrier management experience in logistics and transportation.
• Deep experience managing LTL and Truckload (required); Parcel and 3PL (strongly preferred).
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience managing a high-volume TMS
environment.
• Thorough understanding of DOT regulations, carrier contracting, accessorial governance, and
claims fundamentals.
Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, or Business.
• Prior leadership experience.
• Proficiency in Power BI or similar BI tools.
• Sales experience in logistics is preferred both customer and carrier facing
• Multi-lingual.

Additional Information

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Sitting for extended periods of time
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, power tools, and other computer components
• Lifting and transporting of moderately heavy objects, such as computers and peripherals
• Occasional travel to interact with local companies, regional offices and/or support implementation of solutions

We are committed to inclusion, diversity, and equal employment opportunity, regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.